Opportunity to provide engagement and advice services for Cumbria Business Growth Hub

This opportunity is issued by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce in relation to engaging businesses in developing their workforce and to undertaking training needs analyses.

Note: If you are already working for us as an adviser you need not reapply to work on this activity - your work on this activity is covered by the procurement already undertaken. This procurement is for additional advisers to work on this project only.

Background

The ESF Employees Support in Skills initiative is aimed at encouraging businesses throughout Cumbria to consider workforce development as part of their plans, and in particular growth plans, providing free training and encouraging businesses to offer apprenticeships. It is delivered by a partnership led by Carlisle College.

As part of this Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, through the Growth Hub, is tasked with engaging with businesses, undertaking training needs analyses and promoting take-up of training and apprenticeships, as well as providing an impartial brokerage service between businesses and providers.

Specific requirements

We therefore have a requirement for subcontracted advisers to:

engage businesses

carry out training needs analyses

promote the project offer and encourage take up of training and apprenticeships

make clients aware of the wider support on offer and refer them into this

ensure that project paperwork is fully and correctly completed, including required signatures, and provided to the Growth Hub in a timely manner

Advisers may make their own client appointments and/or undertake appointments made for them by the Growth Hub.

Timescales

The project is now operating and is expected to run until approximately March 2018. Note that there will be no commitment to a particular number of hours under the contract, either in total or in any given period.

Payments

Payment will be in arrears against monthly invoices itemising authorised work carried out during the month, and subject to provision of satisfactorily completed paperwork. Set rates of £12.50 per Engagement and Data Capture form and £50 per completed TNA apply (plus VAT if VAT registered). Other payments may be agreed by exception.

Drawing advisers from the pool

We are looking to add to the pool of advisers to work on this activity.

Where an adviser brings a client to the project they will work with that client unless they or the client choose otherwise.

Where advisers have made days available for bookings, clients will be booked in based on client availability/time preference.

Otherwise advisers will be allocated on the basis of geographic location and in rotation (subject to availability) - note we may allocate a batch of clients to an adviser to minimise travel.

Submission content/tender completion information Responses must be written in English.

Additional information: Instructions for submission

A pool of advisers is required. This call will remain open until noon on 4.10.17.

Submissions may be made at any time up to that time and will be considered for addition to the pool as and when they are received.

Any response received after the deadline will not be opened or considered.

Please respond by email to lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk.

Clarifications

Any clarifications should be submitted to lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk.

Contract terms

The draft contract proposed is attached as Schedule B. By submitting a tender, tenderers are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this brief and the relevant contract without further negotiation or amendment.